Design

Where artistry meets engineering.

The words "a Mercedes-Benz should always look like a Mercedes-Benz" still fuel our creative fire. But what we achieve goes far beyond appearances. Together with some of the world's best automotive engineers, our team of industrial, textile, graphic and interface designers devote themselves to the craft of automobile making. And what we produce are vehicles that not only look, but feel and sound like nothing else on the road.

Discover more about Design:

Exterior Design

What's on the outside comes from within.

Although Mercedes-Benz designs have consistently proved ahead of their time, our vehicles are often described as timeless. And that's not surprising. Because for us, design is an outward expression of the same values we've held dear for more than 125 years. So no matter the aerodynamics, the specifications and the technical requirements, every new Mercedes-Benz design is simply a new interpretation of the things we've always believed in.

Iconic Designs

Defining an era is one thing.Transcending it is another.

While every Mercedes-Benz is designed to stand the test of time, certain vehicles have managed to perfectly capture not only the spirit of their day, but the promise of what lies ahead. Explore a handful of iconic designs that live on both in the imagination and in the annals of automotive history.

Colors and Materials

Specialists select the color palette and materials for every interior surface. Textures, gloss levels, grain and other details are chosen based in part on their ability to convey high levels of quality.

Ergonomics

An automobile should fit its occupants - not the other way around. Everything from seating position and door-handle height, to dashboard layout and control location is designed with people in mind.

Controls & Displays

Besides the look and feel of switches, knobs and other controls, the interior design team also develops the graphics, interface and menu structure for the on-board computer - not to mention the logic behind its functionality.

Atmosphere

Collectively, all interior elements should create a driving environment that makes occupants feel both at ease and in control. The care and craftsmanship with which every Mercedes-Benz is built should be readily apparent.

Interior Design

When you're engineering comfort,no minutia is too small.

While the considerations that go into a Mercedes-Benz interior are countless, the goal is quite singular when you first step inside and close the door you should feel at home. To that end, we painstakingly craft even the smallest detail to create an atmosphere that gives you a sense of confidence and well-being.

Vehicle Configuration

Every Mercedes-Benz has a unique sound based on the set-up of its engine, transmission and exhaust system. In particular, exhaust notes are tuned to give model families -- and even specific vehicles -- their own individual character.

Noise Insulation

Materials engineered to block and absorb sound are integrated throughout the vehicle. Other insulation measures, such as increasing the thickness of windows, also come into play.

Aero-acoustics

Noise caused by airflow around the vehicles is reduced in any number of ways, from repositioning windshield wipers and streamlining roof pillars, to altering the shape of side mirrors.

Psycho-acoustics

The level of acoustic comfort in the cabin, as perceived by the human ear, is optimized using criteria like loudness, sharpness and "articulation index" -- or how easily occupants can carry on a conversation.

Acoustic Design

It's as much about what you hear as what you don't.

Some might argue that a great automobile eliminates noise altogether. But at the same time we're inventing new ways to shield you from unwelcome sounds, we're also fine-tuning every auditory aspect of our vehicles so that you can hear what makes them extraordinary -- from their distinctive exhaust notes to the solid and reassuring thump of a closed Mercedes-Benz door.

Concept Vehicles

Creating the shape of things to come.

Before Carl Benz could invent the automobile, he first had to imagine the future. More than 125 years later, things haven't changed at Mercedes-Benz. Whether it's developing ideas for upcoming vehicles or presenting a vision for a possible tomorrow, we're always imagining how the future will look.

Created by a team of 150 trainees at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen, this zero-emissions roadster incorporates elements from various eras of automotive design, including the spoked wheels of Carl Benz's Patent Motorwagen.

F800 Style (2010)

Characterized by its long wheelbase, commanding front end and seductive roofline, the F800 Style showcases the new Mercedes-Benz design language and sets a clear visual direction for the future of the Three-Pointed Star.

BIOME (2010)

A theoretical ultra-light vehicle grown in an organic environment from special seeds, the BIOME is made from a material called BioFibre that collects energy from the sun and transforms it into a natural fuel.

F125! Research Vehicle (2011)

Marking the 125th anniversary of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz presents its vision for the large luxury sedan of the future, which features a body shell of fiber-reinforced plastics and an emissions-free hydrogen fuel cell.

Concept A-Class (2011)

Demonstrating how the new and more aggressive Mercedes-Benz design language would be applied to a compact vehicle, this sculpted hatchback draws auto-show crowds and sets the stage for the launch of the production A-Class.

Concept Style Coupe (2012)

With a provocative and powerful design that extends to its sport-minded interior, the four-door Concept Style Coupe provides a not-so-subtle hint about the design of an upcoming production vehicle.

C111-III (1977)

The third iteration of a futuristic concept built to test new engine technologies, the streamlined C111-III broke more than new ground in automotive design and engineering -- it broke nine world speed records.

F400 Carving (2001)

Equipped with experimental technology allowing it to adjust wheel camber for more precise cornering, this sharply styled speedster features a long hood, steeply angled windshield and wing-like side sections.